Improvement in fruit-baskets



, UNITED STATES PATENT OEECE.

JOHN H. DOOLIT'ILE, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BASKETS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. DO0LIT1LE,of Derby, of New Haven county, in the State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FruitBaskets or Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specication.

My invention relates more particularly to that class ot' small boxes which. are employed in large numbers for holding berries or small fruits, such as strawberries, Ste., and has for its main objects economy of construction,light ness, and durability; and to these ends my invention consists in forming a box of a strip of thin wood so nicked or creased crosswise as that it may be bent round into a polygonal form, in connection with a bottom piece retained in its place by means of cords, all as hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use rnyinvention,1will proceed to describe the construction of my improved fruit basket or box, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one ol' my fruitbaskets. Fig. 2 is a bot tom view of same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.

In the several ngures the same parts are ini dicated by the same letters of reference.

A is a strip of thin wood, (or other suitable material,) which is prepared of a length about equal to the designed perimeter of the box or basket to be formed, and which should be cut partly through on straight lines crosswise of the strip where the corners oi' the box are to be formed. y

The width of the strip A represents the depth or height of the box or basket when finished.

B is the bottom, which is a simple fiat board or disk of a contour corresponding to the shape into which the strip A is bent, and about equal in size to the contour of the interior of box. This bottom B is retained in its place wholly by two cords or strings, l 2, which cords also serve to bind the sides ofthe box-(that is, the

bent strip A) in its proper shape, as will be presently explained.

3 is another cord or string, which bainds the sides of box near its top edge. The two ends of strip A are notched out, so as to interlock when the said ends are brought together, as

clearly seen at c c c, and the strip A is nicked or slotted at s s s, where the corners are formed, and just below the top edge of box, for the reception of the binder-string 3, to prevent the latter from slipping out of its proper place.

The strip A is also nicked (at euch bend or corner) near the bottom of the box, as seen at m m m, more extensively than at s. These nicks or slots m across the corners are to a-ccom modate the two stringsland 2, which pass around the box (through these slots m) in parallel planes sufficiently far apart to admit the bottom B between, so that the strings l 2 not only bind the lower part of box-sides, (or bent strip A,) but also retain the bottom ot' the box or basket.

It will be seen that by simply notching the ends of strip A to match together, as shown, the said ends are securely locked together, so that every side of the box issecured against any tendency to becoming deranged or ben out of shape. v

It will be understood that, even when thebox may have its bottom constructed and secured in place differently from the manner` herein described, (as part of my invention,) the top or npper portion of box may be bound together in the 'man ner described, and great advantage be derived from the use ofthis part only of imy invention.

I have shown a hexagonal box, but the strip A may be bent into any other polygonal form, or it may be bent into a circular or elliptical form, without losing the main features and advantages of my invention. When the box is made of the last-named forms I propose to make about three slots for the accommodation of the bottom cords.

It is obvious that, although I deem it expedient to make the bottom cords, 1 2, perform the double functions of binding box together and holding in bottom piece, separate cords may be used to accomplish these several ends.

It may be found best in practice to employ only one cord to support the bottom B, and dispense with the cord 2, in which event the bottom B can be removed from the box when empty. This mode ot construction may, indeed, be found most advantageous.

The greatest advantages of the peculiar method described of securing the bottom in and i holding the box together are the facility with which the several parts, properly gotten out,

may be packed and transported in separate pieces and the readiness with which the parts can be put together by any inexperienced hand and without the necessity of using tools of any kind.

Having fully described the construction and operation of my improved fruit basket or box7 what I claim asY new7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the bent strip, having its ends interlocked, and bottom board with the surrounding and retaining bands, the Whole a1'- ranged to constitute a boX or basket substantially such as hereinbefore described.

2. Sustaining the bottom of the basket by means of a band, l, passed around the body of the basket and through slots, substantially in the manner set forth. v

In testimony Whereofl have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN H. DOOLITTLE.

In presence of- ANDREW I. TODD, JOHN CooHRANE. 

